Drop springs or Drop spindles for a GM clipped Task Force???? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

NW Task Force · 09-16-2013, 09:03 PM

Hey folks,

I am wanting to lower my 57' pickup this Winter to achieve the ride height I desire in the front. The front clip is a 77' Camaro (all stock). The rear is 82' Trans Am with a spring perch flip. I am looking at a 2" drop in the front to level the truck/give it a slight rake in the front. Should I use aftermarket drop spindles or drop springs..........or a combo of both? I am not wanting to "home-brew" the stock springs by chopping them shorter. Any recommendations for brands, manufactures, and the procedure itself? Thanks!

Coupeguy2001 · 09-17-2013, 09:51 AM

Due to the style of wheels you are using, drop spindles will give you a nice drop and will preserve the factory geometry that was built into your suspension. There is also a "tall" ball joint that you might want to investigate to keep your front tires from hitting the fenders in a turn going over a bump when the front tires get up near the fenderwell.
What this does is normally, when you go over a bump, with stock components, the arc in which the tire follows, angles the top of the tire out a little before it tips back in. With the taller ball joint, the tire just tips in, giving more clearance for the fender.
Speedway in Nebraska at speedway.com has these in their online catalog.

NW Task Force · 09-17-2013, 09:21 PM

So doing drop spindles alone is enough to achieve a lower stance in the front?

BlueJeep · 09-19-2013, 06:19 PM

Yes.

NW Task Force · 09-20-2013, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

Yes.

Ok, I've had a few folks tell me that drop spindles is the way to go on lowering without sacrificing the ride quality. I think I'll leave the stock coil springs alone and install 2" drop spindles for my 77' Camaro front clip.

mr48chev · 09-21-2013, 09:29 AM

Stock coils on the Firebird chassis didn't leave a lot or room for lowering by changing springs anyhow. The dropped spindles would get you down a bit and not sacrifice ride.
Evidently who ever set that subframe in the truck decided that he didn't want a low truck as normally they are right down in the weeds after the subframe swap and you don't have to lower them. not a bad thing altogether but there are a few guys around who while wanting independent suspension don't want the truck low and set it up so it rides high.

That's a good looking truck even at nose bleed height.

09-16-2013, 09:03 PM	#1
NW Task Force Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Poulsbo, WA USA Posts: 247	Drop springs or Drop spindles for a GM clipped Task Force???? Hey folks, I am wanting to lower my 57' pickup this Winter to achieve the ride height I desire in the front. The front clip is a 77' Camaro (all stock). The rear is 82' Trans Am with a spring perch flip. I am looking at a 2" drop in the front to level the truck/give it a slight rake in the front. Should I use aftermarket drop spindles or drop springs..........or a combo of both? I am not wanting to "home-brew" the stock springs by chopping them shorter. Any recommendations for brands, manufactures, and the procedure itself? Thanks! Attached Images __________________ 1957 Chevy Pickup 1/2T, stepside, big window, 77' Camaro subframe, 3rd gen Firebird rearend w/3.23 gears & disc brakes, 66' 283cid, TH350 auto, everything else is original

09-17-2013, 09:51 AM	#2
Coupeguy2001 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: phoenix az Posts: 723	Re: Drop springs or Drop spindles for a GM clipped Task Force???? Due to the style of wheels you are using, drop spindles will give you a nice drop and will preserve the factory geometry that was built into your suspension. There is also a "tall" ball joint that you might want to investigate to keep your front tires from hitting the fenders in a turn going over a bump when the front tires get up near the fenderwell. What this does is normally, when you go over a bump, with stock components, the arc in which the tire follows, angles the top of the tire out a little before it tips back in. With the taller ball joint, the tire just tips in, giving more clearance for the fender. Speedway in Nebraska at speedway.com has these in their online catalog. __________________ http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/v...d.php?t=489721

09-17-2013, 09:21 PM	#3
NW Task Force Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Poulsbo, WA USA Posts: 247	Re: Drop springs or Drop spindles for a GM clipped Task Force???? So doing drop spindles alone is enough to achieve a lower stance in the front? __________________ 1957 Chevy Pickup 1/2T, stepside, big window, 77' Camaro subframe, 3rd gen Firebird rearend w/3.23 gears & disc brakes, 66' 283cid, TH350 auto, everything else is original

09-19-2013, 06:19 PM	#4
BlueJeep Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Waukee, Iowa Posts: 1,608	Re: Drop springs or Drop spindles for a GM clipped Task Force???? Yes. __________________ build threads: 86 Suburban 88 Jeep 6.0 swap 49 Chevy truck 54 Chevy wagon 86 Suburban lowered 4/6 54 Chevy wagon 49 Chevy/s10 mix 88 Jeep Wrangler rockcrawler

09-21-2013, 09:29 AM	#6
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,498	Re: Drop springs or Drop spindles for a GM clipped Task Force???? Stock coils on the Firebird chassis didn't leave a lot or room for lowering by changing springs anyhow. The dropped spindles would get you down a bit and not sacrifice ride. Evidently who ever set that subframe in the truck decided that he didn't want a low truck as normally they are right down in the weeds after the subframe swap and you don't have to lower them. not a bad thing altogether but there are a few guys around who while wanting independent suspension don't want the truck low and set it up so it rides high. That's a good looking truck even at nose bleed height. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.



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